Carburetor



J.H.CATER March 25, 1952 CARBURETOR 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed June 11, 1946INVENTOR. Jose/ H5: C2752,

ATTORNEY.

March 25, 1952 J CATER 2,590,377

CARBURETOR Filed June 11, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IN V EN TOR.

Ar TOE/V5 y.

Patented Mar. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 171Claims. (Cl. 261-)This invention has to do with a carburetor or a generator for creating acombustible charge for the usual type of internal combustion engine,using gasoline or the like as a fuel, and it is a general object of theinvention to provide a simple, practical, highly efficient device of thecharacter mentioned which is free of the usual jets, floats, anddelicate valves and the like that characterize carburetors as nowordinarily used.

'It is a generalobject of the present invention to provide a carburetoror charge generator which handles air and liquid fuel such as gasolineto vaporize the gasoline'and establish or deliver a combustible mixtureof air and such'vaporized gasoline in which the fuel and air areproportioned-in a most advantageous manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the generalcharacter referred to wherein liquid fuel is picked up and vaporizedthrough wick action or through the action of capillary attraction, andnot by solid fuel being sprayed or injected into a stream of air, as isthe case in the usual carburetor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carburetor ofthe general character referred to having drain means that serves toeffectively relieve the device of excess liquid fuel that mightotherwise cause flooding or undesirable choking of the device.

Another object of the'present invention is to provide a carburetor ofthe general character referred to involving'a plurality of saucer-shapedevaporator pans to handle the liquid fuel, which pans are such as to acteificientlythroughout various angles and are characterizedby astructural formation by which they hold a substantial quantity of liquidso that it does not immediately drain out before having an opportunityto vaporize.

It'is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedsimplified construction whereby evaporator pans such as have beenreferred to are heated in-a manner to efiectively expedite theevaporative action that takes place in the apparatus.

Itis another object of the present invention toprovide apparatus of thecharacter referred to in which the air which circulatesthrough theapparatus and which picks up the vaporizedliquid fuel moves through theapparatus at a low velocity so that only properly vaporized fuel iscarried out of the apparatus. By the construction that I have provided,the flow of air over the means provided for-vaporizing the wells at alow velocity and as a result no large bodiesor particles of liquid fuelare picked up and carried out of the apparatus, as is often the casewith the ordinary companying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the carburetor ofthe present invention showing it. applied to the intake manifold whichmay be the manifold of an ordinary combustion engine. Fig. 2 is a planview of the parts shown in Fig. 1, being a view taken-substantially asindicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1, and showing certain parts broken awayto appear in section. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of thestructure, being a view taken as indicated by line 3--3 on Fig. 1. Fig.4 is an enlarged detailed sectional View taken substantially asindicated by line 44 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken asindicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailedsectional view taken through the fuel nozzles showing in detail themanner in which the fuel is introduced to the evaporator pans, and Fig.7 is an enlarged view of a part of the construction shown in Fig. 1,illustrating the manner in which the evaporator pans are connectedwiththe headers through which the heating medium is supplied to the heatingmanifolds that are attached to the pans.

The carburetor of the present invention can be used, generally, where itis desired to mix air and liquid fuel such as gasoline to form acombustible mixture. For example, it can be to advantage in connectionwith an ordinary internal combustion engine of the gasoline type. Incarrying out my invention I connect the carburetor to the manifold M ofan engine and I drive a working element of the carburetor from theengine, but I have for purpose of simplicity eliminated any disclosureof the engine itself since my invention is in no way concerned with suchdetails and since internal combustion engines of the gasoline type arewell understood.

The carburetor that I have provided involves, generally, a main part orbody A which acts primarily as a carrier for certain. other parts" andwhich forms a mixing chamber, a plurality of vertically. spaced cuppedor saucer-like trays B in the body, means 0 for heating the trays,evaporator pads D located on or over the trays; spacers E arranged toestablish the trays and pads in the desired relationship in the body A,fuel distributing means F supplying liquid fuel to the pads and trays,fuel supply means G receiving fuel from a suitable source andintermittently admitting it to the means F, a main shutoff H, controlmeans J, and overflow means K in connection with the trays acting todrain 01f surplus liquid fuel.

The body A may, in pratcice, vary widely in size and shape. However, inpractice I prefer that it be a box-like structure or chest elongate inplan configuration and substantially rectangular in cross-sectionalconfiguration. The particular body shown in the drawings involves abottom l0, side walls ll, ends I2 and a top H. I have shown the topremovable from the other parts to provide access to the inside of thebody and I have shown the end l2 at the inlet end of the structuretapered or somewhat funnel-shaped or flared to facilitate thedistribution of air into the body, and I have shown the end l2 at theother end of the body correspondingly shaped to facilitate directingcombustible mixture from the body to the means J. At the inlet end ofthe body A I provide a partition l2 supporting a plurality ofdistributing tubes 12 In the preferred form of my invention I provideone or more tubes for each of the trays B which tubesdirect the inletair to the trays. The tubes 12* may be of substantial cross sectionalarea so that the air is distributed evenly across each tray to flowtoward the outlet end of the body.

The trays or pans B that I provide in the body A are what I will termevaporator pans or trays and, in accordance with my invention, they arearranged in spaced relation one above the other in the body A and eachtray is cupped or saucerlike, as will be seen from the drawings. Thetrays are preferably made to correspond, generally, to the planconfiguration of the body A, and in practice I preferably form the"trays of sheet metal so that they are easily formed and are as lightand thin as is consistent with strength and rigidity. In accordance withmy invention the surface of each tray is provided, preferably completelyoccupied, with a plurality of small indentations or depressions M whichact, as shown in Fig. 6, to normally catch and hold small quantities, orbodies [5 of liquid fuel. The indentations l4 serve to effectively checkrapid drainage of the fuel from the trays and by forming the trays sothat they are cupped or saucer-like, as shown throughout the drawings,and by providing flanges or baffies I l which project upwardly from theends of the trays, the device is effective in various angular positionsso that the action is not materially disturbed when it is tilted, as forexample, when it is used on an automobile and tilts to various angles inthe course of normal operation of the automobile.

In practice I preferably space the trays B a substantial distance apartin the body A and the desired spacing may be established or maintainedin any desired manner. In the particular case illustrated I show eachtray formed at its periphery or margin with a depending flange IS. Theflange of the lowermost tray rests on the bottom ID of the body whilethe flange of each of the other trays rests on the tray beneath it andthe top l3 of the body A has a depending flange [1 similar to theflanges [6 which, when the top is secured to the body, acts to hold orclamp the trays B in position within the body A. It will be apparentthat by suitably pro- 4 portioning or extending the flanges I6 and I1 Imay gain the desired spacing of the trays.

The means C provided for heating the trays B preferably involves,generally, a jacket 20 spaced below each tray forming a chamber 2| undereach tray to carry a heating medium. Headers 22 are provided at each endof the body forming vertical ducts to carry the heating medium and thejackets 26 have end extensions 2| which join and are in connection withthe headers. In the particular case illustrated each header is formed ofa plurality of separable tubular sections which sections are arrangedend to end or one above the other, there being a header section joinedto each jacket extension. A tie member 23 is provided at each header totie the several sections together. Each header has an extension 25extending to the exterior of the body A and a supply duct 26 connects toone extension 25 while an exhaust duct 21 connects with the otherextension 25. In practice any suitable heating medium may be employed,for instance, I may pass exhaust gases from the engine through thestructure that I have described by introducing it through the duct 26 sothat it passes through the chambers 2| established under each evaporatortray to finally exhaust out through the exhaust connection 21.

The evaporator pads D serve primarily to receive liquid fuel from thetrays B and to handle such fuel so that it readily evaporates orvaporizes to be mixed with the air passing through the device. In thepreferred construction each pad D corresponds, generally, in planconfiguration with the tray B over which it is arranged and it isessentially a pad or body of finely divided or shredded non-corrosive,noncombustible material such as glass or metal wool, presenting a bodyhaving wick action or in which capillary attraction serves to elevatethe liquid fuel from the trays and distribute it for evaporation orvaporization. In carrying out my invention I preferably provide a body30 of metal wool such as brass or bronze wool of suitable texture andpacked to have a density which causes the mass to have the desiredcapillary action. Where a pad or mat 30 of such material is used Ipreferably employ a carrier or confining envelope 3| of wire screeningor the like in order to hold the material or pad 30 in.

the desired form, the envelopes or material 30 forming units that can,from time to time, be removed for cleaning or be replaced ascircumstances may require.

The spacers E that I provide are arranged between adjacent assemblieseach of which involves a tray and a pad D and they may be in the form ofvertical ribs or fins 33 disposed throughout the structure at suitablepoints, as indicated in the drawings. These spacers serve to keep theparts of the assembly rigidly aligned and they are effective inmaintaining spaces or passageways 35 between the tops of the pads D andthe bottoms of the jackets 20, which passageways 35 form ducts throughwhich air is passed through the device. The passageways that I have thusprovided occur immediately above or over the exposed pads D so thatvapors given off by the pads are immediately and readily picked up bythe air, resulting in highly efficient operation of the device.

The fuel distributing means F preferably involves one or more nozzles 40in connection with each tray and its pad D and a feed system or ductsupplying liquid'fuel to the nozzles. In the preferred arrangement Iprovide several nozzl'es at suitable intervals along the side edges of.each tray-pad unit andI mountthe nozzles sothat they arecarried by theside walls H of thebody A, as shown inFig. 6 of the drawings. The.flanges I5. and I1 that depend: from the trays and top l3 are.provided'w-ithnotches or openings 4| to allow the nozzles to dischargeinwardly to deliver liquid to the trays and pads. In forming theopenings 4| suitable cuts are made in the flanges l6. and I1, and tabs42 are bent up which form baffies for the fueldelivered by the nozzles40. In the preferredconstruction the edge portionof each tray atanozzle: 49. is I lifted or bulged up somewhat,.as shown in Fig. 6, torest on the baflle 42 so that there'is at this point a space 45established between. the bottom of the pad and the top of the tray bywhich fuel from the nozzle is effectively distributed to the pad andtray. In the preferred arrangement the ducts 4.0 which connect to andsupply the nozzles 40 may be. suitably arranged and connected togetherto be supplied with liquid fuel from the means G.

The fuel supply means G is'preferably supplied with liquid fuel such asgasoline under a suitable head or pressure by means of a supply pipe 59,andit serves to intermittently admit. fuel under pressure to the duct orducts 49 for delivery to g the nozzles 49. The means G may, in practice,vary widely in form or construction. In the'case illustrated I show ameans G driven or powered from the engine which is being supplied by thedevice and themeansG is in the nature of a mechanically operated valvemechanism. The mechanism as shown in Figs. 4 and 50f the drawings mayinvolve a body in the form of a' casting orthe like having an inlet port56' connected with the supply pipe 50 and an outlet port 5'! connectedwith the duct 49 A bore 53 is provided in the body 55 to intersect theports 56 and 51' and a plunger type valve member 59 operates in thebore. The valve member has'a channel 69 formed in it which canbemoved'into position to register with the ports 56 and 51 so that fluidis passed through or by the valve. Suitable sealing rings 6| areprovided aboveuand below the ports to prevent leakage and. a spring 62is provided to normally yieldingly hold the valve 59 down so that thechannel is out of register with the ports. The means for opening thevalve 59 may involve a cam 19 carried on a cam shaft 1| so that eachtime the shaftisrotated-the valve is lifted to momentarily register thechannel 68 with the ports 53 and 51. The drive that I have shown for thecam shaft 1! involves a flexible drive shaft 80 from the engine and aworm member 8| driven by the shaft 80; A worm gear'az fixed on the camshaft 7| meshes with and isdriven by the worm 8|. In practice theflexible shaft 80 is connected to a moving part of the engine so that itis driven at a suitable speed and the gearing above described and thevalve action that I have provided are related and proportioned so thatan appropriate amount of liquid fuel is delivered to the tray pad unitsas the engine operates.

In practice I may supply slightly more fuel than is actually necessaryso that there is ample evaporation. The means K which is an overflowmeans serves to drain any excess fuel from the trays. The drain meansthat I'have shown preferably involves a drain line 85 extending. fromthe device and a drain connection 86 from the trays is drained out ofthe structure without being deposited on the other trays or the pads ofthe other trays. In practiceI may provide asingle drain means K atthecenterof thestructureor I may provide a multiplicity of such drainmeans at different points in the construction as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, and the drain nozzles 81 at the center of the structure mayextend slightly above the trap B to form an additional reservoir. Asuitable pump 85 may be provided; such as an ordinary automotivefuelpump, to draw the excess fuel from the line 85 and. return it intothe fuel system.

An air duct 88 is connected to the end |Z of the body A throughwhich airis admitted to the structure and a main shut-off means H is carried byor connected with the duct 88. As shown in the drawings the means H mayinvolve a suitable valve 89 under control of a suitable operating device90.

The control means J is arranged between the structure hereinabovedescribed or, in other words, between the body A and the manifold M ofthe engine. In the preferred form of the inventionthe control meansinvolves a delivery duct 9| in the form of an elongate tubehaving oneend connected to the manifold and the other end open to receive air. Theduct 9| has a side or lateral connection 9 i to which the outlet end- I2of the body A is connected. The duct 9| is preferably restricted wherethe lateral connection 9W to which the outlet end l2, of the body A isconnected. The duct 9| is preferably restricted where the lateralconnection occurs so thata Venturi action is obtained. A throttle valve92 is connected in the duct 9| immediately adjacent the point ofconnection with the manifold M- and a choke valve 93 is provided in theouter end portion of the duct or beyond the lateral connection 9| Asuitable check valve or fire trap 94 is provided at the lateralconnection 9| or in the structure where the outlet end of the bodyconnects with the duct 9i). The trap 94 is normally open. However, it isdesigned so that should a backfire occur it automatically closes andthus prevents ignition of gases within the body A. In addition to or inplace of the trap 94 I may provide a. suitable fire screen 95 to preventflames from entering the body A. From the foregoing description it isbelieved that the operation of the device will be fully understood. Themain control valve H is opened whenever the device is in use. Thisadmits. air to the body A which air passes through the tubes I2 to bedirected over the pads D of the trays B. The throttle valve 92 is set orpositioned to govern the amount of combustible mixture to be deliv-.ered to the engine, thus governing the speed: of the engine. As theengine operates the shaft 80 is operated and consequently the means Gope erates so that liquid fuel or gasoline is intermittently deliveredto the nozzles 40. The fuel de livered to the nozzles 40 is distributedover the trays B, its flow over the trays being retarded by the cup-likedepressions of the trays, and a substantial amount, if not all, of theliquid thus, delivered to the trays is picked up by the pads D bycapillary attraction, and consequently vaporizes or evaporates to bemixed with the air passing through the passages 35 which occurimmediately above the pads. The mixture of air and vapors is deliveredto the ductfll of the means J and the choke means 93 is operated toadmit auxiliary air at this point, as circumstances require. It is to beunderstood that a suitable amount of heat is applied to the trays tofacilitate or to expedite the action above described, and that as thedevice operates it can be varied as to angle in much the same mannerthat the carburetor of an automobile varies in angle as it operates onthe ordinary automobile.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variationsor modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fallwithin the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A carburetor includin a body having an air inlet and a deliveryopening, a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays in the body, anevaporator pad corresponding in plan configuration with each tray andcarried on and in contact with the top surface of each tray, there beinga space above each pad, fuel distributing means supplying liquid fuel tothe pads and trays, fuel supply means admitting fuel to the distributingmeans, a main shut off for the air inlet, means controlling the deliveryopening, and overflow means draining surplus liquid from the trays thespaces above the pads being in communication with the air inlet anddelivery openings and conducting air between said openings.

2. A carburetor including, a body having an air inlet and a deliveryopening, a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays in the body, anevaporator pad corresponding in plan configuration with each tray andcarried on and in contact with the top surface of each tray, spacersestablishing a space above the pad on each tray,

fuel distributing means supplying liquid fuel to the pads and trays,fuel supply means admitting fuel to the distributing means, a main shutoff for the air inlet, means controlling the delivery opening, anoverflow means draining surplus liquid from the trays the spaces abovethe pads being in communication with the air inlet and delivery openingsand conducting air between said openings.

3. A carburetor including, a chest shaped body having a flared air inletand a delivery opening, a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays inthe body, means for heating the trays including jackets beneath andsubstantially coextensive with the trays, an evaporator padcorresponding in plan configuration with each tray and carried on and incontact with the top surface of each tray, there being a space aboveeach pad, fuel distributing means supplying liquid fuel to the pads andtrays, fuel supply means intermittently admitting fuel to thedistributing means, a main shut off for the air inlet, means controllingthe delivery opening, and overflow means draining surplus liquid fromthe trays the spaces above the pads being in communication with the airinlet and delivery openings and conducting air between said openings.

4. A carburetor including, a. body having an air inlet and a deliveropening, a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays in the body, anevaporator pad corresponding in plan configuration with each tray andcarried on and in contact with the top surface of each tray, there beinga space above each pad, fuel distributing means supplying liquid fuel tothe pads and trays, fuel supply means admitting fuel to the distributingmeans, a main shut off for the air inlet, means controlling the deliveryopening, and overflow means draining surplus liquid from the trays, theupper surface of each tray having a plurality of small individualdepressions acting to catch and hold small bodies of liquid the spacesabove the pads being in communication with the air inlet and deliveryopenings and conducting air between said openings.

5. A carburetor including, a body having an air inlet and a deliveryopening, a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays in the body, anevaporator pad corresponding in plan configuration with each tray andcarried on and in contact with the top surface of each tray, flanges atthe margins of the trays establishing a space above the pad on eachtray, fuel distributing means supplying liquid fuel to the pads andtrays, fuel supply means admitting fuel to the distributing means, amain shut off for the air inlet, means controlling the delivery opening,and overflow means draining surplus liquid from the trays the spacesabove the pads being in communication with the air inlet and deliveryopenings and conducting air between said openings.

6. A carburetor including, a body having an air inlet and a deliveryopening, a plurality of individual vertically spaced cupped trays in thebody, means for heating the trays including spaced headers in the bodyone adapted to be supplied with a heating medium and the other having anexhaust opening, and individual jackets extending between the headersand beneath each individual tray, an evaporator pad corresponding inplan configuration with each tray and carried on and in contact with thetop surface of each tray, there being a space above each pad, fueldistributing means supplying liquid fuel to the pads and trays, fuelsupply means admitting fuel to the distributing means, a main shut offfor the air inlet, means controlling the delivery opening, and overflowmeans draining surplus liquid from the trays the spaces above the padsbeing in communication with the air inlet and delivery openings andconducting air between said openings.

'7. A carburetor including, a body having an air inlet and a deliveryopening, a plurality of individual vertically spaced cupped trays in thebody, means for heating the trays including spaced headers in the bodyone adapted to be supplied with a heating medium and the other having anexhaust opening, and individual jackets extending between the headersand beneath each individual tray, an evaporator pad corresponding inplan configuration with each tray and carried on and in contact with thetop surface of each tray, there being a space above each pad, fueldistributing means supplying liquid fuel to the pads and trays, fuelsupply means admitting fuel to the distributing means, a main shut offfor the air inlet, means controlling the delivery opening, and overflowmeans draining surplus liquid from the trays, each header including aplurality of separable tubular sections arranged end to end, eachsection being joined with a jacket the spaces above the pads being incommunication with the air inlet and delivery openings and conductingair between said openings.

8. A carburetor including, a body having an air inlet and a deliveryopening, a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays in the body, anevaporator pad corresponding in plan configuration with each tray andcarried on and in contact with the top surface of each tray, there beinga individual vertically spaced cupped trays in the body, means forheating the trays, an evaporator ,15

pad carried on each tray, there being a space above each pad, fueldistributing means supplying liquid fuel to the pads and trays includinga pluralityqof nozzles at the sides of the body spraying the fuelinwardly to the trays andpads, fuel supply means admitting fuel to thedistributing means, a main shut off for the air inlet, means controllingthe delivery opening, and overflow means draining surplus liquid fromthe trays, the

upper surface of each tray having a plurality of small individualdepressions acting to catch and hold small bodies of liquid, the spacesabove the pads being in communication with the air inlet and deliveryopenings and conducting air between said openings.

10. A carburetor including, a body having an air inlet and a deliveryopening, a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays in the body,means for heating the trays, an evaporator pad carried on each tray,there being a space above each pad, fuel distributing means supplyingliquid fuel to the pads and trays including nozzles at the sides of thebody spraying the fuel inwardly to the trays and pads, fuel supply meansadmitting fuel to the distributing means, a main shut off for the airinlet, means controlling the delivery opening, overflow means drainingsurplus liquid from the trays, and baiiles at the nozzles supporting theedge portions of the pads at the nozzles, the upper surface of each trayhaving a plurality of small individual depressions acting to catch andhold small bodies of liquid, the spaces above the pads being incommunication with the air inlet and delivery openings and conductingair between said openings.

11. A carburetor including, a body having an air inlet and a deliveryopening, a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays in the body,means for heating the trays, an evaporator pad corresponding in planconfiguration with each tray and carried on and in contact with the topsurface of each tray, there being a space above each pad, fueldistributing means supplying liquid fuel to the pads and trays, fuelsupply means admitting fuel to the distributing means including aplunger valve and operating means for the valve intermittently openingit, a main shut off for the air inlet, means controlling the deliveryopening,

and overflow means draining surplus liquid from the trays the spacesabove the pads being in communication with the air inlet and deliveryopenings and conducting air between said openings.

12. A carburetor including, a bod having an air inlet and a deliveryopening. a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays in the body,means for heating the trays, an evaporator pad corresponding in planconfiguration with each tray and carried on and in contact with the topsurface of each tray, there being a space above each pad, fueldistributing means supplying liquid fuel to the pads and trays,.fuelsupply meansadmitting fuel to the distributing means, a main shut offfor the air inlet, means controlling :the'delivery opening, and overflowmeansdraining-surplus liquid from the trays including drain nozzles inthe trays and discharging one directly into another to conduct fluidaway from the trays'to a drain pipe the spaces above the pads being incommunication with the air inlet and delivery openings and conductingair between saidopenings.

13. A carburetor including, a body-having an air inlet and a deliveropening, a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays in thebody;meansfor heating the trays, an evaporator pad corresponding in planconfiguration with each'tray and carried on and in contact with thetong-surface of each tray, there being a space above each pad, fueldistributing meanssupplying'liquidgfuel to the pads and trays, fuelsupply-means admitting fuel to the distributing means, a main shut offfor the air inlet, means controlling the delivery opening, and overflowmeans drainingsurplus liquid from the trays including drain nozzles inthe centers of the trays and discharging ;one directly into another toconduct fluid away from the trays to a drain pipe the spaces above thepads being in communication with the air'inlet and delivery openings andconducting air between said openings.

14. A carburetor including, a body having an air inlet and a deliveryopening, a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays in the body,means for heating the trays, an evaporator pad corresponding in planconfiguration with each tray and carried on and in contact with the topsurface of each tray, there being a space above each pad, fueldistributing means supplying liquid fuel to the pads and trays, fuelsupply means admitting fuel to the distributing means, a main shut offfor the air inlet, means controlling the delivery opening including adelivery duct having an air opening and in communication with the body,and overflow means draining surplus liquid from the trays the spacesabove the pads being in communication with the air inlet and deliveryopenings and conducting air between said openings.

15. A carburetor including, a body having an air inlet and a deliveryopening, a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays in the body,means for heating the trays, an evaporator pad corresponding in planconfiguration with each tray and carried on and in contact with the topsurface of each tray, there being a space above each pad, fueldistributing means supplying liquid fuel to the pads and trays, fuelsupply means admitting fuel to the distributing means, a main shut offfor the air inlet, means controlling the delivery opening including adelivery duct having an air inlet opening and having communication withthe body and a check valve checking flow from the duct into the body,and overflow means draining surplus liquid from the trays the spaces 5above the pads being in communication with the air inlet and deliveryopenings and conducting air between said openings.

16. A carburetor including, a body having an air inlet and a deliveryopening, a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays in the body, airdistributing means receiving air from the inlet opening and distributingit over the trays, means for heating the trays including an individualcupped jacket beneath each individual tray, an evaporator padcorresponding in plan configuration with each tray and carried on and incontact with the top surface of each tray, there being a space aboveeach pad, fuel distributing means supplying liquid fuel to the pads andtrays, fuel supply means admitting fuel to the distributing means, amain shut off for the air inlet, means controlling the delivery opening,and overflow means draining surplus liquid from the trays the spacesabove the pads being in communication with the air inlet and deliveryopenings and conducting air between said openings.

17. A carburetor including, a body having an air inlet and a deliveryopening, a plurality of vertically spaced cupped trays in the body,means for heating the trays, an evaporator pad corresponding in planconfiguration with each tray and carried on and in contact with the topsurface of each tray, there being a space above each pad, fueldistributing means supplying liquid fuel to the pad and trays, fuelsupply means admitting fuel to the distributing means, a main shut offfor the air inlet, means controlling the delivery opening, and overflowmeans draining surplus liquid from the trays including drain nozzles ineach tray,the nozzle in one tray being above and in alignment with thenozzle in the next lower tray and discharging one into another toconduct fluid away from the trays to a drain pipe the spaces above thepads being in communication with the air inlet and delivery openings andconducting air between said openings.

JOSEPH H. CATER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 231,635 West Aug. 24, 1880312,186 Butler Feb. 10, 1885 420,591 Dawson Feb. 4, 1890 730,938 LuedkeJune 16, 1903 794,938 Houlon July 18, 1905 906,940 Schmitt et al. Dec.15, 1908 1,082,865 Goodyear Dec. 30, 1913 1,089,501 Ruthven Nov. 10,1914 1,264,464 Wold Apr. 30, 1918 1,634,022 Dalton June 28, 19271,747,066 Gaston Feb. 11, 1930 1,954,177 Jones et al. Apr. 10, 19341,985,689 Persons Dec. 25, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date84,062 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1920

